Looking for Dance Shoes!

Payless Shoes! That's where I got my daughter's last year. Inexpensive, and the quality is pretty good! They have both tap and ballet. And it's better than ordering online since you can try them on her.

Get her good shoes! I am a dance teacher and have seen parents order shoes that don't fit the child! The shoes end up falling off during class! Cheap shoes are NOT the way to go even at this age! Protect your child's feet while you can!

I did some research there is a store in McKinney. Here is the web site with the hours/directions and etc. Never been to TX so I don't know how the store is run or how it is but it came up on Google. From the reviews I read, it seems to have high ratings. They mentioned to ask for "Jenny" when you go there! below is the web site...
http://www.upstagedancewear.com/index.html

Hope you get to go there!

Good luck! Message me if you need to talk!

I buy my daughter's tap and ballet shoes from Zappos.com. Free shipping and returns, priced the same as Payless, good quality shoes like Capezio and next day (usually) shipping. I order a few different sizes of each and send the rest back. Beats having to drag her around to a bunch of stores.
PS. Dance shoes tend to run narrow and small, so try buying a few different widths and up to 2 sizes bigger than what she normally wears.

You must talk to the dance teacher. She may have restrictions as to style, color, tap quality, all sorts of things. She may also have a supply of the shoes you can try on and buy directly from her.

Otherwise if you order online be sure to realize that dance shoes are made all over the world and China thinks a size 9 toddler is different than a size 9 toddler shoe made in Russia and they are different that ones made in Mexico.

My granddaughter dances Hip Hop and Tap/Ballet combo. Her split sole hip hop shoes are a 4 1/2, they are really tight now too. Her ballet shoes are a 3. Her tap shoes are a 2. She is just now moving into a size 1 shoe at any store in my town. Payless, Penney's, Walmart, etc...

Dance shoe sizes do not have anything to do with actual sizes. I tell people to pretend the machines just randomly stamped numbers on to the shoes so only look to see if they fit.

So, make sure if she has shoes you can try on and buy directly from her, make sure what style of shoes you need before you go looking, and make sure you find out her requirments for a good fit, with a sock, with just tights, lose, tight fit, etc....

By far the cheapest way to buy dance shoes is at discountdance.com. (As long as you know the size you need.) For ballet shoes, it's best to buy leather with a full sole (not canvas, not split-sole, not slipper-type shoes). For tap shoes, just get the little Capezio kind that tie - they're in the $20 range.

You may also check at your dance studio - many of them have a "borrow box" where parents donate used shoes (since kids grow so fast, many times these shoes are barely worn). You should make sure that you do not buy ballet shoes big - buy them so they fit. Her toes should touch the end. I know that's counter-intuitive, but too-large ballet shoes can cause her to trip, which you don't want.

Your final option is to ask at the front desk at the ballet studio to find a good local dancewear store. A lot of times, dance studios can give you a coupon for a hefty discount (ours has a 25% discount at the local Capezio store). With that kind of discount, you can get properly and professionally fitted shoes at a very good price.

I hope your little one enjoys dance! We are dance-crazy in our house. :)

I got my daughters on line through Amazon.com. They were cheaper than the local stores.

I've seen leotards at Kmart, kohl's, and Target so they may sell ballet shoes too. Walmart may have them, but I don't shop there. If you don't mind used tap shoes, look at resale shops and even Goodwill.

Also check on-line. And for a lower price and a little bit of lysol you can get get a used pair.

Not sure about tap, but Payless has ballet shoes!